Bonfire oven

ABSTRACT

A bonfire oven has a body placeable on the ground. The body has a combustion cabinet and an auxiliary equipment cabinet. A burner contained in the combustion cabinet has a fire grate, a side plate extending upward from the fire grate, a top plate opposite to the fire grate, a blowing space beneath the fire grate, and a hearth defined by the fire grate and the side plate. A fuel supply mechanism, an electrical equipment and an air blower is contained in the auxiliary equipment cabinet. The bonfire oven further has a flame portion on the top which is a flame roaring space formed by at least one piece of high temperature resistant glass.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a bonfire oven, and more particularly, to abonfire oven for use with biomass fuel which is safe to use and easy tocontrol fire.

2. Description of Related Art

Setting bonfire is an ancient tradition and beloved by many people ofvicarious countries. Until now, the way of setting a bonfire isbasically putting a pile of wood, charcoal, or carbon on the ground orin a basin and then igniting. This traditional way of bonfire settingbrings following main problems. First, safety. Sparkles and flame of thebonfire fly in wind and will be liable to ignite other objects or scaldpeople or animals. Situation becomes more dangerous when natural wood orcarbon explodes in burning. Second, flame control. In this way ofbonfire setting, both ignition and extinguishing usually take a longtime. Wood and carbon are not liable to be ignited directly withordinary lighting utilities such as a gas lighter and a firing gun. Anda general way of extinguishing is only be natural burn out or waterdampening. Water dampening needs adequate water source and natural burnout usually requires a guardian. Both ways have a low efficiency offlame control. Furthermore, since flame is totally affected by wind,when wind, especially gust, is high, bonfire will be completelyinfeasible. Third, circumstance issues. In the traditional way ofbonfire setting, thick smoke will be generated in a very long periodfrom start to full burning, which will negatively affect circumstanceand health of surrounding people. And ash, wreckage, and stain on theground left by burning are hard to clean. Situations become even worsewhen the flame is put out with water. Fourth, a height of flame.Traditional bonfire only has a flame of limited height. It is not easyfor a traditional bonfire to form a splendid scene of blazing fire.Fifth, the bonfire is not able to be transported.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the invention is to provide a bonfire oven having agreater safety. The bonfire oven will not produce flying sparkles, and aflame thereof will not sway in wind in a range of a height ofsurrounding people.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bonfire oven which isable to be ignited or extinguished by pressing a button and a flamethereof is able to be generated or put out in a very short time period.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a bonfire oven whichis able to be used in continuous wind or a relatively high gust.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a bonfire oven whichis able to produce little smoke and ash and leaves no stain on theground which is hard to clean.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bonfire oven which isable to produce a flame of a height greater than surrounding people andform a splendid scene of bonfire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bonfire oven which isable to be transported easily. The bonfire oven is suitable either forlong or short distance transportation.

In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention providesa bonfire oven for use with biomass fuel having a body which is able tobe placed on the ground. The body has a combustion cabinet and anauxiliary equipment cabinet. The combustion cabinet has a bottom whichis able to be placed on the ground levelly, a side extending upward froma peripheral of the bottom, and a top in communication with an upperperipheral of the side and opposite to the bottom. A door is provided inthe side. The combustion cabinet has a burner received therein. Theburner has a fire grate, a side plate extending upward from a peripheralof the fire grate, a top plate on the side plate and opposite to thefire grate, a blowing space beneath the fire grate, and a hearth definedby the fire grate and the surrounding side plate. A blowing hole isdefined in the blowing space facing the auxiliary equipment cabinet. Afront opening is defined in the blowing space opposite to the blowinghole. A plurality of air vents are defined in the fire grate. A flametube is in communication with the hearth being formed in the top plateabove the hearth. A plurality of air holes are defined in a wall of theflame tube. The auxiliary equipment cabinet has a fuel supply mechanismand an electrical equipment received therein. The fuel supply mechanismhas a hopper, a fuel tube having one end in communication with thehopper and a free end extending into the hearth, and a rotary vanefeeder rotatably contained in the fuel tube. The electrical equipmenthas an air blower in communication with the blowing hole, a feedingmotor driving the rotary vane feeder, a power supply, and a switch. Thebonfire oven further has a flame portion on the top of the body. Theflame portion is a flame roaring space formed by at least one piece ofhigh temperature resistant glass surrounding the flame tube.

The bonfire oven of the invention has following beneficial effects.First, since the main process of burning is in the burner and theburning sufficiency becomes much increased with air supply, sparkles ofburning tiny carbon granule become much less liable to fly out ofoutside circumstance through a long flame portion. At that same time,leaping flames in the flame portion will no longer vulnerable toenvironmental wind. Therefore, safety is much improved than the use ofnature bonfire. Second, after a user turns on the bonfire oven, thehot-red ignition bar and the air blower are able to quickly make a fullyburning, generating desirable flames. And when the user turns off thebonfire oven, the air blower is able to be set to work for an additionaltime period, making the fuel in the burner burn out quickly. Thus, anefficiency of generating and extinguishing of a bonfire is muchimproved. Third, the bonfire oven uses biomass fuel granule. Biomassfuel is more inflammable, and has less smoke and ash. The fuel ofgranule makes the time for ignition, smoke and ash even less, especiallyat a beginning and an end of the combustion. Fourth, the ash iscentralized in the burner and is easy to collect and clean through thedoor. No stain which is hard to clean will left on the ground. Fifth,outside air is able to enter the flame tube through the air holes in theflame tube and rapidly flows within the flame portion, stretching flamesto a height which is much greater than that of a traditional bonfire. Asplendid blazing bonfire is thus able to be generated. Sixth, comparedwith traditional bonfire, the bonfire oven is easy to be transported.The oven is able to be short distance moved by people, or long distancemoved by a transportation vehicle.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofthe bonfire oven of the invention when a bonfire is set.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the bonfire ovenshown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic side plan view of the bonfire oven shown in FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view along line A-A in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a fire grate of the bonfireoven shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of an electrical equipment of the bonfireoven shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a second preferred embodimentof the bonfire oven of the invention when a bonfire is set.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective exploded view of the bonfire ovenshown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a partial perspective exploded view of the bonfire oven shownin FIG. 7 when a side wall of a burner is removed.

FIG. 10 is a schematic side plan view of the bonfire oven shown in FIG.7.

FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view along line B-B in FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a schematic perspective view of a third preferred embodimentof the bonfire oven of the invention.

FIG. 13 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of glass panes of a flameportion of the bonfire oven shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of a glass pane frame of thebonfire oven shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the glass panes of theflame portion of a fourth preferred embodiment of the invention. And,

FIG. 16 is a partial cross-sectional plan view of the glass panes of theflame portion of a fifth preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Shown in FIG. 1 is the preferred embodiment of a bonfire oven of theinvention. The bonfire oven has a body 1 which is able to be placed onthe ground. The body 1 has a combustion cabinet 10 and an auxiliaryequipment cabinet 20.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the combustion cabinet 10 has abottom 11 which is able to be placed on the ground levelly, a side 12extending upward from a peripheral of the bottom 11, and a top 13 incommunication with an upper peripheral of the side 12 and opposite tothe bottom 11. An openable door 121 is provided in the side 12.

A burner 30 is contained in the combustion cabinet 10. The burner 30 hasa fire grate 31, a side plate 32 extending upward from a peripheral ofthe fire grate 31, a top plate 33 on the side plate 32 and opposite tothe fire grate 31, a blowing space 34 beneath the fire grate 31, and ahearth 35 defined by the fire grate 31 and the surrounding side plate32. A blowing hole 341 is defined in the blowing space 34 facing theauxiliary equipment cabinet 20. A front opening 342 is defined in theblowing space 34 opposite to the blowing hole 341. A plurality of airvents 311 are defined in the fire grate 31. An ignition bar window 312may be defined in the fire grate 31, too. An ignition bar 53 may beinstalled in the blowing space 34 and exposed to the hearth 35 throughthe ignition bar window 312. A flame tube 37 being in communication withthe hearth 35 is formed in the top plate 33 above the hearth 35. Aplurality of air holes 371 are defined in a wall of the flame tube 37.In this preferred embodiment, there are three rows of such air holes371.

The auxiliary equipment cabinet 20 has a fuel supply mechanism 40 and anelectrical equipment 50 received therein. The fuel supply mechanism 40has a hopper 41, a fuel tube 42 having one end in communication with thehopper 41 and a free end extending into the hearth 35, and a rotary vanefeeder 43 rotatably contained in the fuel tube 42. The electricalequipment 50, as shown in FIG. 6, has an air blower 51 in communicationwith the blowing hole 341 being able to supply air to the blowing space34 of the burner 30 through the blowing hole 341, a feeding motor 52driving the rotary vane feeder 43, the ignition bar 53, a power supply54, a switch 55 and a power light 56. The power supply 54 may be anindependent alternating current/direct current power supply 541, havingor having not a storage battery 542 in parallel as auxiliary. Either thealternating current/direct current power supply 541 or the storagebattery 542 is able to supply power independently. The switch 55 isinstalled on the auxiliary equipment cabinet 20 and able to control thepower supply of whole circuit. The power light 56 is also installed onthe auxiliary equipment cabinet 20 near the switch 55 and used to indictstatus of power supply.

A heat insulating layer 16 made up of fire proof materials such asasbestos or fire brick is provided between the side plate 32 of theburner 30 and the side 12 of the combustion cabinet 10.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the bonfire oven of the inventionfurther has a flame portion 2 on the top 13 of the body 1. The flameportion 2 is a flame roaring space formed by at least one piece of hightemperature resistant glass surrounding the flame tube 37. In thispreferred embodiment, the flame portion 2 has a glass tube 201 on thetop 13 and surrounding the flame tube 37. An inner glass tube 202 havinga basically same diameter as the flame tube 37 and a height of 10-40millimeter may be provided in the glass tube 201.

Fuel 70 is biomass fuel granule made by smashed and then briquettedstraw, bits of wood, or crop stalks.

In use, a user is able to first place smooth the bonfire oven on theground where is desirable and then load fuel 70 into the hopper 41. Whenthe user turns on the switch 55, the power light 56 turns up, whichmeans the circuit is closed and the bonfire oven starts to work. Thefeeding motor 52 starts to rotate, driving the rotary vane feeder 43 tosend the fuel into the burner 30. Biomass fuel granule falls onto thefire grate 31 under the gravity. At this time, the ignition bar 53 hasbeen electrified and turned red-hot and will ignite the fuel 70 on thefire grate 31 through the ignition bar window 312. At this time too, theair blower 51 supplies air to the blowing space 34. Air enters thehearth 35 through the air vents 311 in the fire grate 31 and providesoxygen for combustion of the fuel 70. In a process of burning of thefuel 70, methane gas is created. Being pushed by the air blower 51, themethane gas flows along the flame tube 37 rapidly. At the same time,because of a temperature difference between an upper and a lowerportions of the glass tube 201, air outside of the flame tube 37 willenter the flame tube 37 and flow upward quickly in the flame roaringspace of the flame portion 2. Also at the same time, high temperaturemethane gas, meeting oxygen, starts to burn and is able to createblazing flames. The flame is stretched by an air flow generated by thetemperature difference between the upper and the lower portions of theflame portion 2, and forms a high and splendid flame in the whole flameportion 2. Shown in FIG. 1 is the status of the bonfire flame. After thefuel 70 is able to burn sustainably, the circuit may turn off theignition bar 53 to save electrical power.

When the burning is needed to be stopped, the user is able to turn offthe switch 55, and the power light 56 goes out, the feeding motor 52stops to rotate, and the air blower 51 ceases. As there is no new supplyof fuel 70, the fuel in the hearth 35 will burn up in a very short timeperiod. The user then is able to open the door 121 and collect ash inthe hearth 35 through the front opening 342 of the burner 30. Outerregion of the fire grate 31 may be oblique upward in a certain degree inorder to form a central depression 313. The central depression 313 isuseful to gather fuel 70 together to avoid black smoke caused byinsufficient burning of the outer region fuel 70.

Compared with the chunk charcoal and wood, the fuel 70 of small biomassgranule is much liable to be ignited. Together with the high temperaturered-hot ignition bar 53 and sufficient oxygen supply, the bonfire ovenof the invention is able to form a splendid blazing bonfire in a veryshort time. Since the biomass fuel 70 is so easy to ignite, the bonfireoven of the invention is able to be ignited with a burning paper, aburning paper or a cotton ball soaped with alcohol or gasoline. In thissituation, the ignition bar 53 in the circuit can be saved. As well, theignition bar window 312 does not have to be defined. If the inner glasstube 202 is not provided in the glass tube 201, a viscous flow zone willbe formed in a lower portion of the glass tube 201 near the flame tube37. Since flow in the viscous flow zone is slow and combustion becomesinsufficient, black smoke will be discharged and a black stain will beformed on an inner surface of the glass tube 201 by the micro carbongranule being generated from insufficient burning. Appearance of thebonfire will be negatively affected. The inner glass tube 202 having adiameter basically the same as the flame tube 37 is able to dismiss theviscous flow zone and help form a fast flow flame and prevent occurrenceof the black stain. Even a slight amount of black stain comes up,occasionally, the fast flowing flame will be able to burn it up shortlyafter and make the black stain disappear quickly. The transparent innerglass tube 202 will not affect the appearance of the bonfire flame.

Shown in FIGS. 7-11 is a second preferred embodiment of the bonfire ovenof the invention. In this embodiment, an upper peripheral of the sideplate 32 is in communication with the top plate 33, and the fuel tube 42extends into the hearth 35 through an opening 321 defined in the sideplate 32 facing the auxiliary equipment cabinet 20.

Besides the glass tube 201, the flame portion 2 is able to be formedwith at least three identical glass panes 203, either being closely sideby side or leaving an aperture with each other. Each glass pane 203 isable to be either flat or arcane. Shown in FIG. 12 is a third preferredembodiment of the invention. The body 1 in this embodiment is the sameas the above mentioned embodiments. The difference is that the flameportion 2 is a regular pentagon made up of five identical glass panes203. FIG. 13 is a partial top plan view of the flame portion 2 shown inFIG. 12. Each glass pane 203 has an aperture 204 with a neighboringglass pane 203, instead of being closed side by side. As shown in FIG.14, a glass pane frame 205 may be provided installing on free ends ofall glass panes 203 in order for preventing break or topple of the glasspanes 203. The glass pane frame 205 has five beams 206 each beingcovering the free end of one glass pane 203 and being linked by a hinge207. The beams 206 are made of fire resistant materials such as metal orstone.

In the fourth preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the flame portion 2is a regular hexagon made up of six identical glass panes 203. Eachglass pane 203 has an aperture 204 with a neighboring glass pane 203,instead of being closed side by side. In the fifth preferred embodimentshown in FIG. 16, the flame portion 2 has three identical arcane glasspanes 203. Each glass pane 203 has an aperture 204 with a neighboringglass pane 203, instead of being closed side by side.

From above description, it is seen that the objects of the presentinvention have been fully and effectively accomplished. Embodiment ofthe invention has been shown and described for the purposes ofillustrating the functional and structural principles of the presentinvention and is subject to change without departure from theinvention's principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

1. A bonfire oven for use with biomass fuel comprising: a body which isable to be placed on the ground, said body having a combustion cabinetand an auxiliary equipment cabinet, said combustion cabinet having abottom which is able to be placed on the ground levelly, a sideextending upward from a peripheral of said bottom, and a top incommunication with an upper peripheral of said side and opposite to saidbottom, a door being provided in said side, said combustion cabinethaving a burner received therein, said burner having a fire grate, aside plate extending upward from a peripheral of said fire grate, a topplate on said side plate and opposite to said fire grate, a blowingspace beneath said fire grate, and a hearth defined by said fire grateand said surrounding side plate, a blowing hole defined in said blowingspace facing said auxiliary equipment cabinet, a front opening definedin said blowing space opposite to said blowing hole, a plurality of airvents being defined in said fire grate, a flame tube being incommunication with said hearth being formed in said top plate above saidhearth, a plurality of air holes being defined in a wall of said flametube, said auxiliary equipment cabinet having a fuel supply mechanismand an electrical equipment received therein, said fuel supply mechanismhaving a hopper, a fuel tube having one end in communication with saidhopper and a free end extending into said hearth, and a rotary vanefeeder rotatably contained in said fuel tube, said electrical equipmenthaving an air blower in communication with said blowing hole, a feedingmotor driving said rotary vane feeder, a power supply, and a switch,and, a flame portion on said top of said body, said flame portion beinga flame roaring space formed by at least one piece of high temperatureresistant glass surrounding said flame tube.
 2. The bonfire oven asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said flame portion is a glass tube.
 3. Thebonfire oven as claimed in claim 2, wherein an inner glass tube having abasically same diameter as said flame tube and a height of 10-40millimeter is provided in said glass tube.
 4. The bonfire oven asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said flame portion is formed with at leastthree identical glass panes.
 5. The bonfire oven as claimed in claim 4,wherein each glass pane has an aperture with a neighboring glass pane.6. The bonfire oven as claimed in claim 1, wherein an ignition barwindow is defined in said fire grate, and said electrical equipmentfurther has an ignition bar being installed in said blowing space, saidignition bar being exposed to said hearth through said ignition barwindow and powered by said power supply.
 7. The bonfire oven as claimedin claim 1, wherein outer region of said fire grate is oblique upwardforming a central depression.